On the possibility of controlling the wave front of a wide-aperture HF(DF) laser by the method of Talbot interferometry

The possibility of using the method of Talbot interferometry to control the wave fronts of wide-aperture pulsed HF(DF) lasers is studied experimentally. A search for sensitive screens for visualisation of radiation from a HF(DF) laser and other IR lasers is performed. Screens based on fine graphite powder on a rigid substrate proved to be most convenient for recording Talbot interferograms (talbotgrams). The emission of screens excited by laser pulses was detected with a digital photographic camera and images were processed in a PC. High-contrast talbotgrams of multifrequency radiation of a HF laser were obtained, demonstrating the possibility of controlling the wave fronts of HF(DF) lasers by the method of Talbot interferometry without separating an individual laser line.